Patrick Loughran

Patrick Loughran is a principal in the firm, a noted façade expert and the author of two façade books: Falling Glass and Failed Stone. Licensed as both an architect and engineer, he serves in dedicated project leadership roles and is a key member of the firm’s technical group. An adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology and a regular national presenter, he has been quoted in The New York Times and served as the “glass expert” on the National Public Radio show “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!”

Patrick has distinguished himself in the field with several notable achievements. In 1999, he was awarded the Francis J. Plym Traveling Fellowship, allowing him to study building enclosure advances throughout Europe. His research became the catalyst for a series of lectures in the United States on building enclosure innovations. In 2003, German publisher Birkhäuser released his first book, Falling Glass: Problems and Solutions in Contemporary Architecture, which summarizes several years of research on building enclosure issues. The New York Times referred to the book as the "architect’s bible on how to prevent glass from failing,” and Architecture Magazine called it an "indispensable title.” Initially published in English, this book has now been translated into German and Chinese for international distribution.

In the fall of 2004, Patrick received a grant from the Graham Foundation to write a second book—this time, on the limitations and innovations related to concrete, stone and masonry. Failed Stone: Problems and Solutions with Concrete and Masonry was released in 2006, again by Birkhäuser. Architectural Record described the book as “informative, entertaining and humbling.”

Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2009, and he is a LEED Accredited Professional.